After his outburst, George seemed to regain some semnce of control. He walked over to Teresa and put an arm around her shoulders. "I''m sorry, did I scare you? It''s just..... that woman has driven me crazy. You know how this industry works. It''s not umon for people to use their bodies to get ahead. Thepany invested so much in her, made her a star. And this is how she repays us? With betrayal."


    Teresa shrugged off his arm, still fuming. "How dare you take your anger out on me! Am I your punching bag? I don''t care about Marina. Just fix this, George. Don''t let me be humiliated in front of my father."


    "Don''t worry, Teresa. I''ve already got my team on it," he said, his tone softening as he tried to cate her. "I''ve been running thispany for years. I''m not going to let some little tramp bring me down."


    He pulled her closer, his voice smooth. "Your father''s birthday is next month. I had my assistant acquire a porcin vase at an auction. He''ll love it."


    “Well, at least you''re thinking," Teresa sniffed, her anger beginning to subside. “I''ll have the maids clean this up. Try not to let it get to you. Come downstairs and eat."


    "Alright. I just need to sort through some documents. I''ll be down in a minute," George said with a forced smile.


    Teresa carefully stepped over the broken shards and left the study, only to find Yvonne standing right outside the door.


    "Oh, Yvonne, you''re back,” Teresa said, her smile returning.


    "Yes," Yvonne replied coolly.


    "Thepany is going through a difficult time right now," Teresa warned. “I need you to keep a low profile and stay out of trouble. Thest thing we need is for you to make your father even angrier."


    "I believe there''s a saying," Yvonne said, her voiceced with sarcasm. "If you do no wrong, you fear no ghosts at midnight.'' If Dad hadn''t done anything wrong, he wouldn''t be in trouble."


    Teresa frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"


    "Just consider it nonsense, then," Yvonne said with a dismissiveugh. "Is dinner ready? I''m hungry."


    "Then go downstairs and eat," Teresa said. "I had the chef make your favorites tonight-sweet and sour pork and spicy chicken wings."


    Yvonne nodded. It was a rare asion for her mother to remember what she liked.


    Dinner was asvish as always. After eating her fill, Yvonne went back to her room.


    Over the next few days, she and Sandra worked tirelessly, organizing all the evidence they had against George, hoping to use Marina''s case to finally bring him to justice.


    They had everything prepared. But on the day before the trial was set to begin, Marina suddenly withdrew herwsuit.


    "What did you say?" Yvonne stared at Sandra, convinced she had misheard. "She withdrew the suit?"


    "It''s over. Marina dropped the case," Sandra confirmed, her voice t with defeat. "Nexus Media just released an official statement. They im there was never any coercion, that it was all just a contract dispute. They said both parties have reached an amicable agreement to terminate her contract."


    Yvonne''s brow furrowed in disbelief. She grabbed her keys from the coffee table and stormed out the door.


    "Yvonne, where are you going?" Sandra called after her. "Don''t do anything reckless!"


    Yvonne drove straight to Marina''s apartment.


    She rang the doorbell for a long time before the door finally opened. Marina''stood there in a silk robe, her hair tied up foosely. She looked much healthier than she had just a few days ago.


    "Yvonne,” she said, not seeming surprised to see her. But she couldn''t meet


    Yvonne''s eyes, her gaze darting away nervously.